How is Valentine’s Day celebrated across the world?

On February 14th, people in many countries across the world celebrate Valentine’s Day with their loved ones. Though it’s a festival celebrated by people in different countries, they have different traditions and people are celebrating the day in different ways; moreover, in some countries people have their equivalent festivals to celebrate with their lovers at different time of a year. Below you can find how people in some countries celebrate the day with their loved ones.

Germany

In Germany, people would give chocolate and other gifts to their loved ones which is similar to the practice in many other countries. However, chocolate and other gifts (or the box) are often shaped as a pig, as the pig symbolizes happiness and good luck in the German culture. In addition, people in Germany also have many ginger cookies on that day.

Denmark

On Valentine’s Day, men in Denmark would write letters which contain poems and send them to the women they like. The letters are anonymous, and the women that receive the letters would need to guess who the letters are from. If a woman gets who the letter is from, then the man would send her an Easter egg before Easter.

Whales

People in Whales celebrate St. Dwynwen’s Day, the equivalent to Valentine’s Day, on January 25th. Saint Dwynwen is the Welsh patron saint of lovers. Men would carve a wooden spoon with great design and send it to their lovers as a gift on that day. The designs on the spoons have special meanings for the lovers, and people also give spoons as a gift in weddings and anniversaries.

Finland

In Finland, February 14th is not a day only for the lovers. It’s also the “Friend’s Day” to celebrate with their friends. People would exchange cards and gifts with their lovers and close friends.

Japan

Unlike in many Western countries where men would prepare gifts for women, in Japan women would give chocolate made by themselves as gifts to their loved ones on February 14th. In addition, women often need to treat their co-workers with chocolate, although the chocolate given to co-workers may not be as good as that given to their loved ones. This tradition is actually quite common in Asia, where lovers also celebrate the “White Day” on March 14th. A month after Valentine’s Day, men would prepare and give presents to their loved one and treat them with delicious food.

South Korea

The tradition to celebrate Valentine’s Day in South Korea is quite similar to that in Japan. Women prepare chocolate for men on February 14th, and one month later on the “White Day” men would prepare gifts for women. However, in South Korea there’s a festival for the single a month later than the “White Day”. On April 14th, the single celebrate the “Black Day” by gathering and having Korean black noodles.

China

Though many people in China celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 14th with their lovers, they also celebrate the “Seventh Night Festival” on the 7th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar. The day is to commemorate the love of a cowman and a weaving maid in a Chinese tale. People would exchange gifts on that day, and some would go to temples to pray for happiness.